Samantha Dowden

Living in the rural areas of West Virginia and Kentucky, I have experienced and witnessed the devastation of substance use and mental health disorders on our families and communities. Through prayer and lots of hard work, I have had the opportunity to help those who struggle with these disorders with treatment as well as their education to improve the quality of life for them as well as their families.

"Sometimes you have to meet people exactly where they are at."

"Get ready for the toughest and most rewarding career you can imagine."

The challenges, of couse, lie in the political and financial relms of insurance coverage as well as the ongoing stigma that surrounds addiction and mental health disorders. However, the opportunities to teach, counsel, and advocate for this population are endless at this time.

Due to my strong spiritual beliefs, faith and empathy are two of the most important values that guide my professional and personal life. Simply put, God, family, and community are most important in my life today. .